From the back cover: "Harold Shand, East End's toughest gangland boss, has the biggest deal of his life lined up. Nearly all the cake - and the icing too - of dockland's redevelopment. Casinos, clubs - the big and nearly respectable time is on its way. And Harry is making the biggest and most important connection of his life - with New York's Mafia. Then, a pub is blown apart; his best mate is slashed to death at the baths; his mum is nearly blown to pieces - all on the day the Americans arrive. Harry begins a horrific trail of revenge, tearing apart the criminal world to discover who's been playing him dirty - and uncovers betrayal, double-cross and explosive violence. "